Zenith back in the Retreat

[rM3panno]

3 minutes ago, fstuff1 said:

 

 

oh wow.. so on Edge class, the Sky Lounge is now the Retreat Sundeck.

I guess they can still split the Sky Lounge on m+s classes so 1/2 of it is for E+/Z's/high level casino players

 

Except Reflection where 1/3 is already gone for the Reflection suite and signature suites.

[wrk2cruise]

When discussing the Zenith Retreat situation with the CCH onboard last week (after receiving the email) she also told me thc at the CC Happy Hour lounge hours historically held in the Sky Lounge or Eden is also being permanently discontinued and a continuation of the happy hour drinks loaded on your seapass card good in select bars from 5-7 will remain.   She was very disappointed as she found the lounge a valuable resource in meeting members.

 

If you have sailed since the restart you will know that they have merged the CCH in with the other concierges so they are certainly de-emphasizing Captains Club program.

[TrueCruiseaholic]

The loss of use of the Retreat Lounge Concierges and their replacement by the regular Concierge team is one of the main losses with the removal of Retreat Lounge access for Zeniths. The concierge team tries, but I don't think they have the same training or resources as the Retreat Concierges do.

 

Regular Concierge team goes through Guest Relations. Retreat Lounge Concierges go through Retreat Manager. Given Celebrity's preference for suites, the Suite Manager and Concierges can get more done more quickly.

[the penguins]

2 hours ago, wrk2cruise said:

When discussing the Zenith Retreat situation with the CCH onboard last week (after receiving the email) she also told me thc at the CC Happy Hour lounge hours historically held in the Sky Lounge or Eden is also being permanently discontinued and a continuation of the happy hour drinks loaded on your seapass card good in select bars from 5-7 will remain.   She was very disappointed as she found the lounge a valuable resource in meeting members.

 

If you have sailed since the restart you will know that they have merged the CCH in with the other concierges so they are certainly de-emphasizing Captains Club program.

What is the value of the happy hour drinks when you have already had to pay for a drinks package?

[davekathy]

4 minutes ago, the penguins said:

What is the value of the happy hour drinks when you have already had to pay for a drinks package?

There is value in the CC HH drinks for cruises that don't offer the AI. 

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

It seems, with AI becoming the standard, that a revamp of the CC tier perks would be in order. But, corporate "logic" may differ.

 

Tom

[fstuff1]

2 hours ago, TrueCruiseaholic said:

The loss of use of the Retreat Lounge Concierges and their replacement by the regular Concierge team is one of the main losses with the removal of Retreat Lounge access for Zeniths. The concierge team tries, but I don't think they have the same training or resources as the Retreat Concierges do.

 

Regular Concierge team goes through Guest Relations. Retreat Lounge Concierges go through Retreat Manager. Given Celebrity's preference for suites, the Suite Manager and Concierges can get more done more quickly.

 

 

nevermind. i understand now.

yes, the Retreat Lounge Concierges have more pull

 

Edited April 13, 2022 by fstuff1

[fstuff1]

1 hour ago, the penguins said:

What is the value of the happy hour drinks when you have already had to pay for a drinks package?

yup, i said earlier that the point is now moot since X is forcing everyone paying for the cruise to get AI.

 

that leaves casino comped cruisers that aren't Sapphire or above.

and they get free drinks at the casino bar while the casino is open anyway.

[canderson]

5 minutes ago, fstuff1 said:

wait.. the Retreat no longer has a dedicated host?

 

Two, actually.  As Truecruiseaholic notes in outlining the reporting structure,

" Retreat Lounge Concierges go through Retreat Manager."

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

2 hours ago, the penguins said:

What is the value of the happy hour drinks when you have already had to pay for a drinks package?

Zero.

[the penguins]

2 hours ago, davekathy said:

There is value in the CC HH drinks for cruises that don't offer the AI. 

Please find us one - ideally a transatlantic in either direction. Thanks

[capecodmercury]

The more things change. . .

 

I'm not a frequent cruiser. I cruise maybe every other year and I choose to cruise on Celebrity because of the things they do very well and try not to focus on the things that have changed. 

 

Since I only cruise occasionally,  I also tend to frequent Cruise Critic only when I have a cruise scheduled.   But, every time I come back to the Celebrity boards, I find the complaint mill going full force.  There were full throated complaints when Michaels Club became limited access in 2014.  More when Luminae was created cutting the spacing in the main dining rooms.  That's not to mention the travesty of them cutting out the chocolate on the pillow every night.  (Thank God, I didn't have to read all the complaints that I'm sure occurred when AI was instituted).

 

Point is, no matter when any of us started cruising, we can all point to the "good old days".  But, the question you really need to ask is whether the product you are buying (no matter your cabin status or loyalty level) is worth the money you are paying?  For me, that answer is still yes. It's still a much more luxurious experience than I get on any other vacation. 

 

Sure, I can understand unhappiness when a perk is taken away.  We all would like to believe that loyalty means something and that perks should be grandfathered or replaced with equal value.  But see the question above.  Is it still worth it?  After all, how many times do the perks you are given go unused? 

 

As for me, you'll  find me happily sitting at the  Martini Bar before dinner because I love the atmosphere. 

[davekathy]

4 hours ago, the penguins said:

Please find us one - ideally a transatlantic in either direction. Thanks

You can't afford me. 🤣And I didn't say all cruises.

[the penguins]

6 hours ago, davekathy said:

You can't afford me. 🤣And I didn't say all cruises.

Just one is all I',m looking for and your first drink will be on me. Your CC name is familiar did you do Silhouette TA in 2019? or around South America on Eclipse also in 2019?

[davekathy]

7 hours ago, the penguins said:

Just one is all I',m looking for and your first drink will be on me. Your CC name is familiar did you do Silhouette TA in 2019? or around South America on Eclipse also in 2019?

Your generosity is overwhelming. 😉 No. 

[Pinboy]

16 hours ago, capecodmercury said:

1--I find the complaint mill going full force. 

2--That's not to mention the travesty of them cutting out the chocolate on the pillow every night.

3--Sure, I can understand unhappiness when a perk is taken away.

4-- is it worth the money you are paying?  For me, that answer is still yes. It's still a much more luxurious experience than I get on any other vacation.

 

1--That's true !! In order to remain in " good standing " and keeping with the title of Cruise Critic--- Ya gotta find " something " ( ?? ) to Criticize. The earlier after joining CC you get " hammered " by Members the better. 

2-- It is a " travesty " !!  Whadya think a grandchild wants ? Another t shirt with " Look What Grandpa/ Grandma bought me in Cozumel "  or the 38 chocolates that Grandpa ( Grandma doesn't do that kind of stuff ) hid in his suitcase ?

3--So, Don't you like one scoop of gelato or receive 10 % off a $300 photo package, or being " escorted " to the front row in the theater  ?

4--Now you're " talking "---- We've been on lots of cruises--- never had a bad experience or poor service, and could care less about the perks. 

 

[the penguins]

1 hour ago, davekathy said:

Your generosity is overwhelming. 😉 No. 

The boss (Anita) has just told me I was thinking of Mike and Kathy😃

[davekathy]

39 minutes ago, the penguins said:

The boss (Anita) has just told me I was thinking of Mike and Kathy😃

Sounds like I need to have a talk with my wife. 😁

[cublet]

23 hours ago, Happy Cruiser 6143 said:

Zero.

Hello,

 

You are forgetting the stale canapes and petit fours. To be fair, not stale at the beginning of HH, certainly by the end.

 

Regards,

 

Cublet

[the penguins]

2 hours ago, davekathy said:

Sounds like I need to have a talk with my wife. 😁

Always. Just in case of any doubt she also has a badge that says "keep calm I'm the Boss". Last summer on Silhouette one of the girls in the casino cash office said that she would like her partner who is French to call her the boss. Turned out he also worked in the casino and boy did we try but with no success. On returning home we bought her a badge and sent it with a friend who was booked on a subsequent cruise. He gave it to her on what turned out to be her birthday and her the casino manager let her wear it for the day. 4 weeks later we reappeared on the ship for our second cruise and after much hilarity finally got to him to call her the boss, although he made it clear it was a "one off". Happy days and what makes cruising different from any other style of vacation.

[mac_tlc]

23 hours ago, capecodmercury said:

..... That's not to mention the travesty of them cutting out the chocolate on the pillow every night.  (Thank God, I didn't have to read all the complaints that I'm sure occurred when AI was instituted).

 

 

We have sailed Celebrity four times since the restart and had a chocolate on the pillow every night.😀

 

mac_tlc

[capecodmercury]

7 hours ago, mac_tlc said:

We have sailed Celebrity four times since the restart and had a chocolate on the pillow every night.😀

 

mac_tlc

Glad to hear. Pre restart, they had dropped the chocolate and the nightly towel animals (at least in some classes) except for "formal"  nights (another topic that got discussed to death).  My original comment was made very much in cheek to illustrate the small changes that have given rise to great debates and outrage on this board.  And, I reiterate the only question that matters.  Is Celebrity still giving sufficient value for what they are charging? And this is a personal decision. 

[morpheusofthesea]

6 hours ago, capecodmercury said:

Is Celebrity still giving sufficient value for what they are charging?

This is a really great question!  It will take some time of deep introspection and once determined, then the question will non suite Zeniths infringe upon this perceived value ?

[mac_tlc]

7 hours ago, capecodmercury said:

Glad to hear. Pre restart, they had dropped the chocolate and the nightly towel animals (at least in some classes) except for "formal"  nights (another topic that got discussed to death).  My original comment was made very much in cheek to illustrate the small changes that have given rise to great debates and outrage on this board.  And, I reiterate the only question that matters.  Is Celebrity still giving sufficient value for what they are charging? And this is a personal decision. 

I did notice the tongue firmly planted in the cheek!!! 
 

Your question is really the only one for any cruise. For us it’s a resounding yes. Since we retired it’s a “family=Royal, couple= Celebrity” decision.

 

mac_tlc

[phoenix_dream]

On 4/10/2022 at 12:17 PM, graphicguy said:

Just did a quick check, looks to me like Zenith members are recognized.  Just some (not all) of what they get...

 

-Free laundry/dry cleaning

-Free internet

-discounts on a whole host of things like pictures

-charitable donation on the Guest's behalf

 

There's a whole litany of other things, too.

 

So, what Zenith's are saying is that those perks aren't enough.  They also want access to the things that those of us who paid for Suites have, but they don't want to pay for a suite?

 

The suite guests would have a legitimate beef about allowing non-suite passengers into their exclusive areas.

The point is, they used to be allowed access and when covid hit they were told it was being temporarily taken away. Temporarily has now become permanent.  When something is taken away it is upsetting; more so than had it never been given in the first place.